Concordance Sticker

This is a concordance sticker I created by copying and pasting the text from Chapter 5 of Anne of Green Gables.  This could be used by students to identify main characters, potentially important themes from the chapter, and new vocabulary words.

Technology Literacy Noun Project Icons

The definition of technology literacy, like technology itself, has changed rapidly over the past decade.  I created a group of icons in relation to the current technologies that I see most necessary and/or applicable to learners in 2014.  This list is in no way comprehensive nor exhaustive.

 

Email - Technology literacy must include learning how to use email.  This would range from basic communication (sending/receiving/reading email) to more advanced email usage (sending attachments, newsletters, mass mailings, auto-organization tools, and synching accounts, etc.).

*Designed by Ben Hsu from The Noun Project

 

Texting - Learning how to send and receive text is another feature of technology literacy.  Business communications are now sent via text, schedules are created, families are connected, and youth are engaged.

 

 

*Designed by Hussain Khalil

 

 

Scanning - Scanning is the modern form of faxing.  Technology literacy should include learning how to set up scanners, scan, attach, file, send, and receive scanned documents and pictures.

 





*Designed by Luis Prado of The Noun Project

 

Tablet/iPAD - Tablets and touch screen technologies have become a key to modern day technological communication.  Use of apps has increased educational, business, and personal methods of reporting and communicating. 

 

*Designed by Edward Boatman of The Noun Project

 

Wireless - The ability to connect to and find wireless connections seems like a small matter, but it is a necessary stepping stone in technological literacy.

 

*Designed by Martha Ormiston of The Noun Project

 

Video Chat - Technology such as Skype and Facetime have changed the way that people communicate.  Businesses utilize this technology to conduct meetings across thousands of miles.  Families use this technology to connect grandparents to grandchildren and armed service members seeing their child's first steps.  Additionally, video chat is being utilized in the education field to connect students and professors, classrooms across the globe, and educators to peers or mentors outside of their home schools. 

 



 

*Designed by WARSLAB of The Noun Project

 

 

Cloud Computing - This is a must for modern day technology literacy.  Cloud computing allows users to upload/save/back up important information and then view or download on any device, anyplace, anywhere.  The possibilities are endless in the realms of business and education.  Users just need access to internet source, a username, and password.  No need for flash drives, CD ROMS, or floppy disks!

 

*Designed by Petar Nikolic of The Noun Project

 

 

Digital Cameras and Pictures - The ability to share, edit, and receive digital images has grown exponentially within the last 15 years.  Becoming technologically proficient definitely involves the ability to utilize digital photography.

 



 



*Designed by Nathan Thomson of The Noun Project

 

 

Blogs - Technology literacy cannot omit blogs.  User friendly versions of blogging programs are available that require no knowledge of coding or HTML in order to create a website visible by people everywhere who are connected via the internet.  Blogs can provide either an intimate or impersonal experience - both of which may have their own advantages both for the creator and reader.  Blogging may prove to be therapeutic for some, serving as an outlet of communicating their thoughts, feelings, and ideas.

 

*Designed by Milky of The Noun Project

 

Social Media - Any training or awareness program that left out the influence, usage, power of various social media outlets in today's society would be lacking.  Technology has become extremely user focused, in large part due to the usage of social media.  As an example of this, I just received 2 different Twitter invitations from my sons' school.  The principal and school have both now officially actively joined Twitter.  Although I have never previously had an account, I don't want to miss any news so I will now be creating a Twitter account.  The same experience is felt by many others as they are first introduced to Facebook or any other social network.

 



Working Inspiration Graphic Organizer Project

This is a project I am working on with my son.  He is writing a persuasive essay with documented, supporting evidence.  My son is a highly visual learner and has challenges with organization as well as fine motor skills.  This is the original sheet he brought home to brainstorm and organize his essay.

 

As you can see, he didn't get much written on the actual page in this format.  He was also very frustrated and distracted with trying to focus on his handwriting, organizing his thoughts, and fitting it all on this paper.  Then, I introduced the Inspiration Lite app on our iPAD.  He was pretty interested and absolutely LOVED the talk to text tool on the keyboard.  He was literally brainstorming his ideas and then going back and editing what came out  in type.  Here is the initial version of his paper mapping process below:

 

I will post the final results in the next few days.  I can already say though that this tool really can reduce the level of frustration and distraction for learners that have issues with organizing their writing!

Textbook Inspiration Map

Textbook Chapter Wordle

I created  a word cloud based on the content in the first chapter of the textbook Educational Research: Fundamentals for the Consumer by J. McMillan (2012).  This was a chapter entitled - Introduction to Research in Education.  I think the Wordle I created touched on all of the main concepts and key terms from the chapter quite well.



http://www.wordle.net/show/wrdl/7566286/Educational_Research

Word Cloud/Wordle Based on Novel

Here is the word cloud I created using www.wordle.net.  This was a word cloud based on the novel I Even Funnier by James Patterson and Chris Grabenstein (2013).

I did this project with my 5th grade son after he read the novel.  He enjoyed brainstorming the words related to the story and it seemed to be good primer for him to summarize the story.  Wordle was very easy to use.  It was also fun trying out different layouts, fonts, and colors.

Pop-Up Cards

This is a fun and creative project that incorporates digital technology.  Students could use this for a book project or a mini presentation on any topic really.  For my own purposes I created a card.

Auto Summary Tools:

I was unable to utilize the autosummary tool that is available in Word programs prior to 2010; however, I did try out www.textcompactor.com.  I summarized the chapter quite effectivitely without losing too much essential meaning to about 45% of the original length of the text.  I must say that I do have some concerns utitlizing this type of autosummary tool with literature texts just because I fear much of the unique author's voice and intention would be lost.  I do see how this tool could be useful to teach students how to scan passages for the most important features, especially in preparation for test taking or other environments where students need to be able to quickly scan text to extract the essential meaning from it.  Here are the results from the compacted text of Pride and Prejudice Chapter 1.

Chapter 1
It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.
However little known the feelings or views of such a man may be on his first entering a neighborhood, this truth is so well fixed in the minds of the surrounding families, that he is considered the rightful property of some one or other of their daughters.
"My dear Mr. Bennet," said his lady to him one day, "have you heard that Netherfield Park is let at last?"
Mr. Bennet replied that he had not.
"But it is," returned she; "for Mrs. Long has just been here, and she told me all about it."
Mr. Bennet made no answer.
"Do you not want to know who has taken it?" cried his wife impatiently.
"YOU want to tell me, and I have no objection to hearing it."
This was invitation enough.
"Why, my dear, you must know, Mrs. Long says that Netherfield is taken by a young man of large fortune from the north of England; How can it affect them?"
"My dear Mr. Bennet," replied his wife, "how can you be so tiresome! You and the girls may go, or you may send them by themselves, which perhaps will be still better, for as you are as handsome as any of them, Mr. Bingley may like you the best of the party."
"My dear, you flatter me. When a woman has five grown-up daughters, she ought to give over thinking of her own beauty."
"In such cases, a woman has not often much beauty to think of."
"But, my dear, you must indeed go and see Mr. Bingley when he comes into the neighborhood."
"It is more than I engage for, I assure you."
"But consider your daughters. But you are always giving HER the preference."
"They have none of them much to recommend them," replied he; but Lizzy has something more of quickness than her sisters."
"Mr. Bennet, how CAN you abuse your own children in such a way? I have heard you mention them with consideration these last twenty years at least."
Mr. Bennet was so odd a mixture of quick parts, sarcastic humor, reserve, and caprice, that the experience of three-and-twenty years had been insufficient to make his wife understand his character. The business of her life was to get her daughters married;

Just found a new favorite tool!  This is great for both students and educators!!  Teaches students what to look for in their own papers and also gives valuable feedback regarding norms and expectations for different styles of writing.  www.paperrater.com!!!  In this instance, the score was right on as well - I did get an A on this refection piece :)

Title:

K.Sanchelli Sample

The first section of Falk’s Defending childhood: Keeping the promise of early education (2012), explores how a children grow and develop from infancy through their early school years. I approached this book thinking that I knew a good bit about childhood growth and development for a few different reasons. First, I had previously taken an undergraduate course entitled Childhood Growth and Development which touched on a lot of development theories and field work including Piaget, Montessori, and the concept of “tabula rasa” or the blank slate. The course, however, did not delve into practical applications or classroom implementation. It was more from a historical/theoretical mindset. Additionally, I am in the process of raising two children of my own,... (only first 800 chars shown)

Analysis complete. Our feedback is listed below in printable form. Some of the items have been truncated or removed to provide better print compatibility.

Spelling

Spelling Suggestions

• Spelling: like post-partum [suggestions: postpartum]
• Spelling: with post-partum [suggestions: postpartum]
• Spelling: childproof [suggestions: ]
• Spelling: own childrens [suggestions: children, children's, childless, Childress, chaldrons]
• Spelling: I hadnt [suggestions: hadn't, hasnt, haunt, hadst, haint]
• Spelling: and manipulatives [suggestions: manipulative, manipulations, manipulates]
• Spelling: and childrens [suggestions: children, children's, childless, Childress, chaldrons]
• Spelling: interpersonal enivornment [suggestions: environment]

Grammar

Grammar Suggestions

• Possessive Ending: in a childs development [suggestions: a child's development]
• Missing apostrophe: I hadnt [suggestions: hadn't]
• Possessive Ending: on a childs development [suggestions: a child's development]

Word Choice

Word Choice Suggestions

No errors of this type found in the text.

Word Choice

Bad Phrase Score

Bad Phrase Score*: 2.705 (lower is better)
*based on the number and quality of trite or inappropriate words, phrases, and cliches found in your paper.

Great job - your score is above average! You know exactly which phrases to avoid in your writing.

Style

Transitional Phrases

Transitional Words Score*: 76
*based on quality of transitional phrases used within your paper

Good job! Your usage of transitional phrases is within an acceptable range! Nevertheless, you may still benefit from reading the info below.

One sign of an excellent writer is the use of transitional phrases. Transitional words and phrases (e.g. therefore, consequently, furthermore) contribute to the cohesiveness of a text and allow the sentences to flow smoothly. Without transitional phrases, a text will often seem disorganized and will most likely be difficult to understand. When these special words are used, they provide organization within a text and lead to greater understanding and enjoyment on the part of the reader.

These words and phrases fall under a few grammatical categories:

•  Conjunctions: but, provided, and, although

•  Prepositional phrases: in addition to, in conclusion

•  Adverbs: also, however, nevertheless

 

Transitional phrases may be used in various places in a text:

•  between paragraphs

•  between sentences

•  between sentence parts

•  within sentence parts

 

For example, you could write:

Form and function are central themes in Biology. However, knowing the structure of something does not necessarily reveal its function.

The word 'however' contributes to greater unity or cohesion between sentences.

Vocabulary Words

Vocabulary Score

Vocabulary Score: 79
Vocabulary Word Count: 25
Percentage of Vocab Words: 2.91%
Vocabulary Words in this Paper (a Subset): delve, practical, applications, historical, application, address, tactile, circuits, cognitive, check

Excellent work! Your usage of sophisticated words is on par with other well-written papers! Nevertheless, you may still wish to use our Vocab Builder to maintain your edge.

Tips
Whether you are writing for a school assignment or professionally, it is imperative that you have a vocabulary that will provide for clear communication of your ideas and thoughts. You need to know the type and level of your audience and adjust your vocabulary accordingly. It is worthwhile to constantly work at improving your knowledge of words. To help with this task, please consider using our Vocabulary Builder to improve your comprehension and usage of words.

Grade

Auto Grader

Grade: 90* -> A
*based on college grading scale

NOTE: The grade above is NOT complete! We do not actually use a crystal ball to generate your grade. Instead, this grade takes into account spelling, grammar, word choice, style, vocabulary, and more; but it does NOT examine the meaning of your words, how your ideas are structured, or how well your arguments are supported. We should also mention that our automated grader doesn't always get things right. So, please consider this grade to be one facet of your paper's overall grade.